Tensions Easing as PTI r...e - Pakistan - DAWN.com

8/11/2019 Tensions Easing as PTI r...e - Pakistan - DAWN.com

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8/22/2014 Tensions easing as PTI returns to negotiating table - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

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Tensions easing as PTI returns tonegotiating tableBy Dawn.com

Published 14 minutes ago

ISLAMABAD: For the second time since it mobilised thousands

of supporters for anti-government protests in Islamabad,

tensions appeared to be easing on Friday as the Pakistan

Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) prepared to initiate talks with the

government.

Following a meeting of the PTIs core committee today, senior

leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters in Islamabad that his

party was now ready to engage in negotiations with the Pakistan

Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) led government.

Qureshi said that the government had already started removing

containers in Islamabad, while an FIR has also been registered

against culprits who earlier attacked his Multan residence. He said

that he will soon contact Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad

Sarwar to further play his part in facilitating the talks with the

government.

The developments Friday came shortly after PTI lawmakers

submitted their resignations from the National Assembly.

The party, which leads the provincial government in Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa, has been engaged in protests and sit-ins against the

Nawaz government over alleged rigging in the 2013 general

elections.

The PTI is demanding electoral reforms and a change in the


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e ec on comm ss on, an e res gna on o e pr me m n s er.

Following the partys core committee meeting, television channels

quoted PTI leader Naeemul Haq as saying that it was possible that

the prime minister could depart on a long leave until a probe into

electoral rigging is completed.

Haq said that the core committee discussed matters in detail with

legal advisors.

The constitution allows the prime minister to go on a long leave,

he was quoted as saying. We hope we will meet the government

delegation soon.

However, PTI senior leader Arif Alvi soon denied that the party was

willing to show flexibility in its demand for the prime ministersresignation.

There is no flexibility. Our stance is still the same as our original

position: that the prime minister should resign and then the

government can consider our other five demands, he said.

When the governments negotiating team comes, we will see their

response and then react. But there is no such decision as yet from

the core committee, he said.

Alvi said the two sides were expected to meet for negotiations later

tonight.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq told reporters in

Faisalabad that things were looking brighter now and that there

were chances that issues might be resolved through dialogue.

He urged National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq not to

accept resignations of PTI MNAs.


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Tensions Easing as PTI r...e - Pakistan - DAWN.com